Railroad-switch.



"0'. W. REINOEHL & B. L. WEAVER.

RAILROAD SWI'IGH. .APPLIUATIOH FILED JULY 20,1908.

Patented Apr. 27, 1909.

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' CHARLES REINOEHL AND BENT L. WEAVER, or STEELTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

Specification of I etters Patent; 1

, Patented April 2'7, 1909.

Application filed July 20, 1908. Serial No. ie-e532.

To all whom it mag "concern." V W I Be it known that we, CHARLES W. REIN- OEHL and BENT L. l Vnnvnn, citizensof the United, States, andresidents of Steelton, Dauphin county, State ofv Pennsylvania,

have invented certain new and useful 1111- provements in Railroad-Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to that classof rail-' one end connected to the lead rail and the other end made tapering, and movable toward and from the main rail. Heretofore,in

manufacturing switches of this character, it

has been the practice to produce the tapering switch rail from a regular stock rail of the same characteras the main and lead rails, by cutting down the regular stock rail to form the tapering portion of the switch rail. The tapering portion of the switch rail thus constructed was very weak and would not long stand the lateral thrust of the car wheels thereagainst. Attempts have been made to strengthen the tapering portion of the switch rails thus constructed by applying reinforcing members to the sidesof the webs of the tapering portions of the switch rails, and tosecure said members to the rails by bolts passing through'holes in said members and rails. This construction strengthened the tapering switch rail to some extent, but it had its defects in that it was necessary to perforate the parts in order to apply the olts thereto. r

The object ofthe present invention is to overcome the objections above mentioned, and to. provide. a railroad switch having a strong and durable tapering switch rail made of a single )1606 of metal, as will be herein after fully escribed and claimed. w

In the drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of a railroad switch embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section, as on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section as on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section as on the line 4'4 of Fig. 3, the cross ties andsupporting plate being omitted 5 is plan view of the switch rail detached. 7

' 5 designates themain rail, comprising a head 6, a base-7, and a vertical web 8 connecting the head and base. The main rail is suppcrted upon plates 9 which rest upon un- 'derlying cross-ties 10, the rail 5 and plates 9 being secured to the cross-ties in the usual manner.

1'1 designates the lead ra1l, arranged ad a' cent the main rail, and comprising the head 12, base 13, and vertical web 14 connectingthe head and base.

15 designates the switch rail resting upon the plates 9, and comprising a head 16, base 17, and vertical web 18 connecting the head and base. .Oneend of the switch rail 15 is adjacent the end of the lead rail 11, and forms a continuation thereof, and the other or free end of the switch rail 15 is movable toward and from the main rail 5.

The free endofthe head of the switch rail is made tapering, as shown, and the base 17 of the switchrail is made tapering, as shown, so that the base ofthe'switch rail 15 may be moved over the base 7 of the main rail 5 and "the tapering pointed head 16 of the switch rail may be moved into engagement with the head of the main rail.

The switch real 15 is made of a single piece of metal, and the ,web 18 of the tapering portion or free end ofthe switch rail: is made of greater thickness than the thickness of the webs of the main-and lead rails, and the web of the end of the switch rail 15 adjacent the lead rail 11 is reduced to the thickness of the web of the lead rail 11 orsubstantially so, to receive a splice bar 19 which extends between the switch rail 15and the lead rail 11 and is secured thereto by means of bolts 20, the bolts 20 and splice-bars 19 being sufliciently loose to permit the switch rail 15 to bemoved toward and from the main rail 5. I

The portion" oflthe web of the tapering switch rail which is made thicker than the piece ofmetal, free from objectionable sepa rate reinforcing or strengthening parts, and an improvec switch rail ma be produced by rolling a single piece of steel into the described form by rollers designed for that purpose.

Having thus described our invention.,we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1, In a railroad switch, the combination of the main rail having a head, a base, and a web connecting the head and base the lead railhaving a head, a base, and a web connecting the head and base the switch rail movable toward and from the main rail and having a tapering free end, a head, a base, and a web connecting the head and base formed of a single piece of metal extending from the point end of the switch rail to the lead rail, the web of the tapering portion being of greater thickness than the thickness of r the Webs of the main and lead rails, and means connecting the switch rail with the lead rail, substantially as described.

2. In a railroad switch, the combination of the main rail having a head, a base, and a web connecting the head and base; the lead rail having a head, a base, and a web connecting the head and base; the switch. rail movable toward and from the main rail and having a tapering free end, a head, a base, and a web connecting the head and 3ase formed of a single piece of metal, the web of the tapering portion being of greater thickness than the thickness of the webs of the main and lead rails, and the web of the switch rail adjacent the lead rail being reduced to the thickness of the web of the lead rail; and a splice bar bolted to the meeting ends of the switch. and. lead rails, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto allixed. our signatures.

CHARLES W. lillli BEN 'i 11. \KEA V l H.

Witnesses:

B. A. llAinuN, WM. it. lllILLER. 

